Full Project – The role of cooperatives in youth empowerment

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CHAPTER ONE

1.0 INTRODUCTION

The word “Cooperative” has for many decades become a household word in Nigeria, though many users of the word apply it to different situations and circumstances. Generally however, the term “cooperative society” is simply defined as a voluntary association of free and independent minded persons for the betterment of their economic conditions (Okonkwo, 1999).

In the above definition, three key concepts and emphasized and these are, “voluntary”, “free”, and “economic”. These together emphasize the fact that cooperative societies are and should be purely voluntary without any element of compulsion and that members join cooperative associations out of their free will in which case, they may choose not to join. From the above definition also, it is implied that cooperative associations are within the realm of economic associations which exists specifically to improve them non-political, non-religious, non-sectional and non-clandestine associations.

In a study on status and role of cooperatives in the light of new economic and social trends, the term cooperative is defined as: an autonomous association of persons united voluntarily to meet their common economic, social and cultural needs and aspirations through a jointly owned and democratically controlled enterprise (ICA, 1995).

It can be deduced from the above definition that apart from economic needs which are primary in cooperative organizations, there are also social and cultural needs which though not primary, are equally important goals of cooperatives. When put together, it is pertinent that economic, social and cultural needs will sum up to the general welfare of the members. This also implies that cooperatives are generally formed to provide services to members and that this encourages cooperative members to have a strong incentive and motivation for efficient operation and continuous innovation in response to changing business environment, which in turn makes cooperative societies to achieve high rate of both initial success and long-term viability (UN, 1996).

The United States’ Agency for International Development (USAID) defines cooperatives as “voluntary independent business enterprises formed to meet specific needs of their members through a common venture” (USAID, 1985). This definition emphasizes the independent nature of cooperative societies which implies that cooperative movements have to be permitted to disengage themselves from the state at least for three reasons. First, the cooperative movements cannot become member-governed and member-controlled popular movements unless there is significant withdrawal of state involvement. Second, state disengagement has to involve a withdrawal of state intervention and influence on factors which directly or indirectly may affect the business operations of cooperative organizations. And third, the state should no longer see the cooperative movements as a means or instrument which can be used to implement its general development policies and various rural development programmes (ICA, 1994). This implies that the state should set the statutory and legal frameworks for establishment and functioning of member-controlled cooperatives rather than hijacking their activities for government purposes.

In a study on prospects of cooperatives in central and Eastern Europe, it was noted that the whole background for the current development of cooperatives in the region must be understood in the context of the metamorphosis of economic structures changing from a social system based on a planned economy to a market economy. The study further regarded a cooperative as: an association of persons who are as a collective, running an enterprise based on self-help with variable capital assets and a variable total number of members. The cooperative promotes mainly the common economic interests of its members and has to be somehow officially registered (ILO, 2004).

From the above definition, it is evident that cooperatives in the Central and Eastern Europe region essentially existed within a socialist orientation and at the present however, they find themselves at cross roads between socialist history and capitalist future. This includes an increasingly set of possibilities, which could be seen as chances as well as dangers. To ensure the continued existence of cooperatives in post socialist countries, they must have to recognize the demands resulting from the transformation process and they have to learn how to solve the expected myriad of problems.

From the perspective of this work, a cooperative society can therefore be defined as a legal association of persons who have joined resources together based on principles of democracy, unity, equity and liberty for purpose of achieving their collective economic and social gains through provision of services to their members.

1.1 BACKGROUND OF THE STUDY

Youth empowerment is a process whereby young people gain the ability and authority to make decisions and implement change in their own lives. In Nigeria, youth empowerment occurs in homes, at schools, through youth organizations, government policy-making, reality TV shows, and community organizing campaigns. Youth empowerment ranges from economic empowerment to social, ideological, educational, technological and political empowerment.

The term “youth empowerment” combines two important words (“youth” and ‘empowerment”) which must be defined differently. The United Nations, for statistical purposes, defines “youth”, as those persons between the ages of 15 and 24 years. while the Webster Dictionary (1998), defines empowerment in three ways “(1) (c) 2011 to go Booster Books page 8 to give official authority or legal power to: (2) to enable; (3) to promote the self-actualization or influence”. The strategy proscribed by the first definition can be quite effective provided that the party being empowered (that is, the “empowered”) already has the competencies needed to achieve the desired outcome. The strategy does not work well when it is plugged into a framework of youth development in which empowerment itself is being used as a strategy for developing competencies in youths. For youth development, the third definition is move suitable. Youth empowerment therefore refers to a process through which adults begin to share responsibility and power with young people.

However, it must be noted that youth empowerment in itself has been in practice in pre-colonial Nigeria. The trans-Atlantic slave eventually led to the impoverishment of African youths. The post independent African countries inherited the problem of youth unemployment and other social problems.

Within the African context, youth empowerment is a means of encouraging young people to gain the skills and knowledge that will allow them to overcome obstacles in life. In this sense, youth empowerment does the following for African youths:

The ability to make decisions about personal/collective circumstances.
The ability to access information and resources for decision making.
The ability to consider a range of options from which to choose.
The ability to exercise assertiveness in collective decision making.
Having positive-thinking about the ability to make change.
The ability to learn and access skills for improving personal/collective circumstance.

Historically speaking, it is not clear when the term “youth empowerment” entered into the Nigerian socio-political and economic vocabulary. The term perhaps, resonates more as an attempt by stakeholders to draw attention to the ecological degradation and economic “powerlessness” of those living in the oil rich Niger Delta area of Nigeria. the Niger Delta youths adopted militancy to fight for resource control in the region.

1.2 STATEMENT OF PROBLEM

Although, much has been written on the evolution of youth empowerment in Nigeria (especially on youths in Imo State), little is known concerning youth empowerment in Imo State. It is on the basis of the above that this research seeks to fill the vacuum which is yet to receive the attention of scholars in the field of youth empowerment studies and the role of cooperative towards the youth empowerment programs.

Some of those problems encountered in youth empowerment programmes includes:

Poor monitoring and supervision of youth empowerment programmes.
Lack of funding.
Inadequate infrastructural facilities.
Lack of qualified personnel (leaders).
Poor management of youth recreational facilities and vocational centers.

1.3 OBJECTIVE OF THE STUDY

The purpose of this research work is;

To find out the sources of fund for youth empowerment.
To find out the problems and strategies of cooperative towards the enhancement of youth empowerment.
To identify the problems encountered by the cooperatives in the discharge of their function.
To determine the ways that these cooperatives have helped in the development of youth empowerment.
To discuss the various youth empowerment programmes of the Imo State government.
To analyze the youth empowerment policies of the Imo State government.
To make recommendations based on the findings.

1.4 RESEARCH QUESTIONS

The research questions for the study are;

What are the various sources of funds for youth empowerment?
What are the problems and strategies of cooperative towards the enhancement of youth empowerment?
What are the various problems encountered by the cooperatives in discharge of their functions?
What are the contributions of cooperative societies in developing youth empowerment in the area?
What are the various youth empowerment programmes of the Imo State government?
What are the various youth empowerment policies of the Imo State government?
What are the recommendations made based on the findings?

1.5 SIGNIFICANCE OF THE STUDY

The significant of this research work are enormous. First, the work addresses one of the key issues of contemporary Nigeria. it touches areas that affect the conduct of democratic principles in Nigerian polity which is the National Economic Empowerment and Development Strategy (NEEDS). Hence, the study is of key benefit to;

Students of cooperative economics and management.
International relations.
Development studies.
Those in the social sciences.
The school of business in general.

Moreover, this study will also contribute to the growing body of knowledge in youth empowerment as it looks at the concept from a different angle.

Lastly, it is envisaged that this research work will also be of important to other researchers who might want to carry out research in related areas.

1.6 SCOPE OF THE STUDY

This study touches on the concepts of youth empowerment and the role of cooperative towards youth empowerment. It also goes further to examine the evolution and success of youth empowerment in Ehime Mbano L.G.A. in Imo State.

With cooperative having its major aim as enhancing the social, economic and cultural needs of its members, this research work on this basis focuses critically on how cooperative has seriously contributed to the empowerment of youths. It also views the programmes of cooperative that encourage youth empowerment.

1.7 LIMITATIONS OF THE STUDY

There were lots of setbacks and obstacles that trend to hinder the success of this research work, among them are; finance, time, unwillingness of members to respond.

Finance: There was insufficient fund in the course of running this project such as printing of questionnaires, transporting of different locations to gather facts, etc.
Time: The researcher found it very difficult to combine the research work with his studies. Also, the respondents found it very difficult to listen because they were very busy with their various works and occupational duties amongst others.
Unwillingness of Members to Respond: Some of the respondents were unwilling to respond to both the interviews and questionnaires given to them for the reasons best known to them.

1.8 DEFINITION OF TERMS

ROLE: Tasks or duties usually undertaken by an individual or a group.
COOPERATIVE SOCIETY: An autonomous association of persons united voluntarily to meet their common economic, social and cultural needs and aspirations through a jointly and democratically controlled enterprise.

YOUTH: Youth is the time of life between childhood and adulthood (maturity). “Youths are also regarded as those persons between the ages of 15 and 24 years”.

EMPOWERMENT: Empowerment refers to increasing the spiritual, political, social and economic strength of individuals and communities. It often involves the empowered developing confidence in their own capacities.
YOUTH EMPOWERMENT: Youth empowerment is an attitudinal, structural, and cultural process whereby young people gain the ability, authority and agency to make decisions and implement change in their own lives.

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